The United States last week started the process of exiting the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, saying that Russian Federation has been violating the pact through a new missile system and ignored repeated complaints.

The recent decision by the United States to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, and a corresponding move by Russian Federation, are raising security concerns in East Asia, where Japan, a long-time ally of the USA, faces off against China and North Korea. Washington's decision to suspend its participation in the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty in Europe on Friday prompted Moscow to reciprocate.

The US accuses Russia of several violations, including their claims a new Russian missile falls within the 500-5,500km (310-3,400 miles) range banned by the treaty.

"We will certainly respond with military-technical means to the threats that are created as a result of the USA withdrawal from the INF Treaty and as a result of its plans to build low-power nuclear weapons", Lavrov said.

"Over the same period, we will also have to create a land-based missile system with a long-range hypersonic missile". The INF Treaty, negotiated in 1987 by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, was the first nuclear arms treaty to eliminate an entire class of weapons.

Donald Trump defended his decision to withdraw from the INF treaty saying, "Russia repeatedly violated its terms". This was done in response to a six-month of the agreement by Washington. China has stated that Russian Federation and the USA should adhere to the INF and objects to any efforts to expand the treaty beyond its current scope.

"The issue of missiles under the treaty is directly linked to security in East Asia".

USA disarmament ambassador Robert Wood told a UN-sponsored Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday that the United States would reconsider its withdrawal from the INF treaty "should Russian Federation return to full and verifiable compliance". He claimed the new weapon can fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down, meaning it could breach most US missile defense systems.

"In Europe, it will happen due to the threat of deploying short- and intermediate-range missiles from both the American and Russian sides".

About 90 percent of China's missiles are said to have intermediate ranges as the country is not party to the INF treaty.

Defence experts say converting seaborne and air-launched missile systems for ground use will be advantageous for Russian Federation since producing such missiles will be cheaper and quicker.

But Russia's response to the U.S. didn't stop there.

Over the past five years, Chinese forces have steadily consolidated and expanded their presence in the South China Sea through land reclamation efforts.

Mr Shoigu said: "At the same time, they are actively working on creating ground-based missiles with the range capability of over 500km, which is outside the treaty-stipulated limitations". The reports are believed to be meant to restrain the U.S.by emphasizing the performance of the latest weapon.

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